Pittsburgh Tornado Outbreak: New Details On Peters Twister

PETERS TOWNSHIP, PA — Since a series of violent storms touched down in the region Thursday evening, National Weather Service teams have confirmed that 10 tornadoes touched down in southwestern Pennsylvania and southeastern Ohio - including one in Peters.

No deaths or injuries were reported, but widespread property damage and power outages occurred with the storms.

The weather service grades tornadoes by the Enhanced Fujita Scale:

• EF0: Weak, 65 to 95 mph.

• EF1: Weak, 86 to 110 mph.

• EF2: Strong, 111 to 135 mph.

• EF3: Strong, 136 to 165 mph

• ER4: Violent, 166 to 200 mph.

• EF5: Violent: Over 200 mph.

Here are details on each of the tornadoes:

PETERS TOWNSHIP, WASHINGTON COUNTY

• Start location: McMurray

• End location: McMurray

• Estimated time: 8:07 p.m.

• EF- Scale Rating: EF-1.

• Maximum path width: 100 yards.

• Path length: 1.5 miles.

A few broken branches occurred along Thomas Road near Peters Lake Park before the tornado quickly intensified as it crossed Hill Place Road. Trees were uprooted in the Springdale Road and Sunrise Lane vicinity. A number of newer homes had window and shingle damage. One home had a garage blown out. The tornado weakened and dissipated just west of Bower Hill Road.

HAMPTON TOWNSHIP, ALLEGHENY COUNTY

• Start location: Fox Chapel

• End: Hampton

• Estimated time: 7:47 p.m.

• EF-Scale Rating: EF1.

• Maximum path width: 400 yards.

• Path length: 4.8 miles.

Damage was first noted around Auld and Forest avenues, with light structural damage to homes. The twister strengthened on Linden Drive, with several snapped trees and an uplifted roof across Parkview Lane and then to Duncan Avenue, as well as in the Church Hill area. One large tree fell onto a house on Cole avenue and minor structural damage was reported at the Cole-Miller Avenue intersection, as well as Cella Lane.

The tornado weakened considerably after crossing Route 8 and into Bryant before causing more damage in the Middle Road area. Widespread hardwood trees were seen between John Giel and Green Valley drives. Tree damage continued into Hartwood Acres and then to Doreseyville Road, where the tornado finally dissipated.

MOUNT NEBO, BEN AVON HEIGHTS, ALLEGHENY COUNTY

• Start location: Ben Avon Heights

• End location: Ben Avon Heights

• Estimated time: 7;41 p.m.

• EF-Scale Rating: EF-0

• Maximum path width: 100 yards

• Path length: 0.5 miles.

A brief tornado occurred in and near the Mount Nebo Pointe shopping center. Damage at the Target store included broken glass in the entry doors, which were sucked out by the winds, as well as signage damage. Minor tree damage was noted at the base of the hill on the western side.

• Start location: Bethany, Washington County.

• End location: Houston, Washington County

• Estimated time: 7:30 p.m.

• EF-Scale rating: EF2

• Maximum path width: 150 yards

• Path length: 15 miles

The storm rapidly intensified along Indian Camp Road, where a mobile home had roof damage and a deck was ripped off and tossed into a neighbor's yard. Many trees were snapped and uprooted.

Damage occurred on Short Cut Road, Scenic Drive, Racoon Run Road, Possum Hollow Road, Old Trail Road, Jefferson Avenue, Parkview Drive and Oakleaf Road. Peak intensity was reached near Willow Road and Lowry Lane, where a home had a roof completely torn off and tossed about 100 feet. A few hundred feet away, a farm building was completely destroyed. On White Lane, a brick home lost its roof and attached garage.

The tornado appears to have dissipated near North Main Street and Pine Avenue north of Houston.

WEST FINLEY, WASHINGTON COUNTY

• Start location: West Finley

• End location: West Finley

• Estimated time: 7:58 p.m.

• EF-Scale: EF-1

• Maximum path width: 50 yards

• Path length:0.5 miles

The damage consisted of several uprooted trees, roof damage to a shed and a destroyed barn.

BUTLER, BUTLER COUNTY

• Start location: Homeacre-Lyndora

• End location: East Butler

• EF-Scale: EF-0

• Maximum path width: 300 yards

• Path length: 8.9 miles

This storm had a discontinuous tornado path causing sporadic tree damage of varying intensity as it tracked across central Butler County.

NEW GALILEE, BEAVER COUNTY

• Start location: New Galilee

• End location: New Galilee

• Estimated time: 6:56 p.m.

• EF-Scale: EF-1

• Maximum path width: 40 yards

• Path length: 2 miles

Damage was confined along either side of Fairlane Boulevard-Route 351. A tree was uprooted.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP-HARMONY TOWNSHIP, BEAVER AND BUTLER COUNTIES

• Start location: Ellport, Beaver County

• End location: New Harmony, Butler County

• Estimated time: 7:11 p.m.

• Maximum path width: 110 yards

• Path length: 2.6 miles.

Tree damage was found, but no structural damage occurred.

MOUNT PLEASANT, JEFFERSON COUNTY OHIO

• Start location: Mount Pleasant

• End location: Mount Pleasant

• EF-Scale Rating: EF-1

• Maximum path width: 70 yards

• Path length: One-half mile

LOOMIS TO WARNOCK, BELMONT COUNTY OHIO

• Start location: Loomis

• End location: Warnock.

• Estimated time: 7:06 p.m.

• EF-Scale rating: EF-1

• Maximum path width: 50 yards

• Path length: 6 miles with intermittent touch-downs.

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